Build a Fashion Archive not a Capsule Wardrobe

Lately I’ve been much more selective about what I allow into my fashion archive. In the past, my purchases were often random and in the moment, and it left me with nothing more than a closet full of stuff and nothing that fit together. I know I’m not the only one. In my conversations with women, I frequently hear of their desire to buy less but buy better.

The theme of the twenty-twenties has been building a capsule wardrobe and elevated basics. We’ve learned the art of styling is a far greater asset to our personal archives than the closet full of random pieces.

It’s a healthy shift, one I have been thrilled to watch, while at the same time I can’t help but feel it has deprived us of expressing ourselves through our style. Capsule wardrobes have made their money on classic pieces that lack personality.

Don’t get me wrong, I love simplicity. If you take a peek into my archive, you’ll find lots of solids, linen, and denim, but you’ll also find prints (although simple ones) and textures like lace and eyelets.

If you know me, you’d understand that this simplicity makes complete sense to who I am and how I live. I’m always down for an impromptu adventure and a good laugh, but I also prefer not to be the star of the show. I love keeping my archive simple with a little personality thrown in, whether that’s in the form of a unique construction detail or a fun bag. It’s simplicity paired with those unexpected details that matches who I am. I love my archive. It shows my unique point of view, and no matter how hard someone might try, they will never be able to fully copy what makes me, me.

Fashion is a form of self-expression, and if you love bright colors and beaded tops, then that is what belongs in your archive. You just need to understand how to build around them.

A capsule wardrobe’s promise is: any top with any bottom—they’re all interchangeable. They’re also entirely built around neutrals. But a fashion archive? That can be anything.

Want my approach to finding that core, plus the rest of the archive rules I live by? The full essay is in Studio Notes.

xx,
Brittany Anne